Box blank

ABSTRACT

A reusable foldable blank comprising a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of hinge lines ( 18 ) to define a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable in use along the hinge lines to define a box structure, said box structure at least comprising: a bottom panel ( 2 ), at least first ( 3 ), second ( 4 ) and third ( 7 ) side wall panels extending from the bottom panel, and one or more first releasable securing means ( 14 ) for releasably securing at least two of the folded side wall panels together. The blank is particularly suitable for books.

The present invention relates to a blank for forming a box, and in particular to a blank for a reusable folding box for wrapping items such as books, gifts, clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, etc.

Paperback books are often preferred by purchasers due to their cheaper price compared to hardback books. However, by their nature, paperback books are less durable than hardback books and thus more prone to deterioration. Because paperbacks are so portable, their usage often leads to the books being dropped, bent, spilled-on and otherwise damaged. Such usage can quickly render the book unsaleable and unusable.

Furthermore, when bought as a present, it is often desirable to wrap a paperback book in attractive packaging. Often decorated bags are purchased as a wrapping for the book. However, such forms of packaging do not provide any substantial protection to the book or its cover.

This can also apply to other items desired to be provided as gifts or presents, such as clothing, cosmetics and jewellery.

It is also desirable to provide a more attractive way of displaying gift items in a store.

While it is known to provide boxes for packaging books, etc. for postal delivery, such boxes are generally formed from a cardboard blank that is assembled into a box using adhesive, so that the box cannot subsequently be broken down without destroying the blank and thus can only be used once. Furthermore, the boxes must usually be preassembled before delivery to a place of usage such as a store, leading to excessive space requirements for transportation and storage. Also, because of the disposable nature of such boxes, only cheap and visually unattractive materials can be used without the cost of the box becoming prohibitive.

Other known folding boxes involve the use of two separate part-containers for forming a box, and/or the use of hook and loop materials such as Velcro which take away from the visual attractiveness of the box, and can be damaged by bad handling, or repeated use.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reuseable foldable blank comprising a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of hinge lines to define a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable in use along the hinge lines to define a box structure, said box structure at least comprising:

a bottom panel, at least first, second and third side wall panels extending from the bottom panel, and one, or more first releasable securing means for releasably securing at least two of the folded side wall panels together.

By providing a blank that can be readily folded to form a box for a book and subsequently returned to flat blank form for easy storage and reuse, the box can be used numerous times and thus can be made from more expensive, harder wearing and more visually attractive materials and can be used itself as an attractive gift wrapping to protect and enhance the appearance of a paperback book when given as a present.

Preferably at least one of the side wall panels includes at least an end flap extending from a side of the or each side wall panel, the or each end flap being foldable in use to extend along an inner wall portion of another side wall panel, and at least one such end flap comprising a first releasable securing means to releasably secure the end flap to the inner wall portion of another side wall panel. More preferably, at least the first and second side wall panels include first and second end flaps extending from opposing sides of the first and second side wall panels, and at least one of each of the first and second end flaps includes first releasable securing means.

The first releasable securing means may comprise a magnetic fastener. That is, one of more magnetic pieces, strips, units or lengths magnetically attractable to one or more pieces, strips, units or lengths of a material in a corresponding location on or in the blank so as to provide a conjunction which is releasably securable. The conjunction is preferably a smooth overlay of the surface of one part of the blank with the surface of another part of the blank.

The term “releasably securable” is used herein to mean a conjunction that is not permanent, or which would damage one or both of the conjuncting or conjoining surfaces when they are separated, but which still requires a force to separate the conjuncting surfaces.

Preferably, the or each first releasable securing means is located within the or each end flap. Thus, unlike previously used hook and loop assemblies, the or each first releasable securing means can be discreetly located within the blank. This provides the particular advantage that the complete surface of the blank can be visually attractive rather than having one or more parts of the blank with overt securing pieces or strips on parts of the surface. Thus, the blank of the present invention is attractive both in its flat configuration and in its in use box structure configuration.

More preferably, the outside surface of the blank is smooth, optionally completely covered by the same outside surface material, so as to provide a smooth and attractive product without holes or hook and loop assembly strips or the like blemishing the look and outside surface of the blank.

In one embodiment to the present invention, the blank includes a top panel extending from a side wall panel. The top panel may include a second releasable securing means for releasably securing the top panel to a side wall panel. The second releasable securing means may be similar to the first releasable securing means, such as a magnetic fastener, and preferably the second releasable securing means is located within the top panel.

In a further embodiment to the present invention, the top panel comprises a further panel extending from one side of the top panel being foldable along a hinge line between said further panel and said top panel, and wherein the second releasable securing means is located within the further panel.

Preferably, the further panel is foldable the overlap the side wall panel to which it is releasably securable.

In another embodiment to the present invention, the blank comprises first and second side wall panels, which are parallel. Optionally, the blank includes a fourth side wall panel, and the third and fourth side wall panels extend from said bottom panel from a position parallel to and spaced inwardly from an adjacent edge of the bottom panel.

The blank may also comprise fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth side wall panels. Thus, in general, the blank may provide a box structure being triangular, square, cuboid, rectangular, pentangle, hexagonal, etc.

In one embodiment, one or more of the side wall panels may be formed from one or more separate sheets secured to a first sheet defining said bottom panel.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the blank comprises a flat sheet having a plurality of hinge lines to define a plurality of panels, said panels comprising:

a bottom panel, first and second side wall panels extending from first and second opposing sides of the bottom panel, third and fourth side wall panels extending from third and fourth opposing sides of the bottom panel, each of the third and fourth side wall panels including first and second end flaps extending from opposing sides of the third and fourth wall panels, each of the first and second end flaps being foldable to extend along an inner wall portion of the first and second wall panels. In this embodiment, the blank has at least two of the first and second end flaps including first releasable securing means.

The present invention provides a blank which comprises a single blank, that is a single structure for assembly into the box structure. In its flat configuration, the blank may have a width of less than 1 cm, or between 1-2 cm, or even greater than 2 cm, depending on the desired use of the blank.

Preferably, the blank is designed and shaped to provide a box for the provision of items therein, such items including books, jewellery, cosmetics, clothing such as shirts, blouses, dresses, ties, etc., and other gift items. It is particularly advantageous that the present invention is re-foldable or re-usable repeatably, and without damage to the box, such that it is re-usable either within a continuous shopping environment, or by use by a gift receiver, without requiring substantial packing or storage space during its non-use in its flat configuration.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the blank has side wall panels that are dimensioned to fit around a book.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a blank for a reusable folding box for a book, said blank comprising a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of fold lines to define a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable along said fold lines to define a substantially cuboid box structure for enclosing a paperback book, said box structure having a bottom panel, first and second side wall panels extending from said bottom panel to extend parallel to one another on opposing sides of said bottom panel, second and third wall panels extending from said bottom panel to. lie substantially perpendicular to said first and second wall panels, and a top panel, releasable securing means being provided for releasably securing the top panel to at least one of said side wall panels.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank according to an embodiment of the present invention in a flat configuration; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 in a half-formed configuration; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box formed from the blank of FIG. 1 with a book therein.

As illustrated in the drawings, a blank 1 for forming a box for a book or the like comprises a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of spaced apart parallel creases or score lines 18 defining fold lines about which the sheet can be folded. The example shown in the drawings is intended to have four side panels, but the person skilled in the art will understand how more or less side panels can also be formed from a differently shaped blank.

The blank 1 in FIG. 1 can be folded to define a rectangular bottom panel 2, first and second side wall panels 3, 4 extending from parallel long sides of the bottom panel 2, and an optional top panel 5 extending from a side of the first wall panel 3 opposite the bottom panel 2. The top panel 5 includes a further panel being a closure flap 6 extending from a side of the top panel 5 opposite said first side wall panel 3.

Third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 also extend from the bottom panel 2 adjacent the short sides thereof to extend perpendicular to the first and second side wall panels 3, 4. Each of the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 is provided with first and second end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 extending from either side thereof respectively and separated from the remainder of the third and fourth end wall panels 7, 8 by separate fold lines 19 such that the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 can be folded to lie against inner side surfaces of the first and second side wall panels 3, 4 when the blank 1 is assembled into a box.

The third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 extend from the bottom panel 2 from a position adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the short sides of the bottom panel 2 to be parallel to and offset from the edges of the short sides thereof such that the closed box resembles a hardback book.

The third and fourth side panels 7, 8 and the bottom panel 2, top panel 5 and first and second side panels may be formed from a single sheet of material, such as card, preferably coated card, or plastic sheet material, the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 being connected to the bottom panel 2 by a compound or Z shaped fold to achieve the required offset of the third and fourth wall panels from the side edges of the bottom panel 2. Alternatively, the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 may be formed from one or more additional sheets secured to the bottom panel 2.

A first releasable securing means (not shown) is preferably located within one or more of the first and second end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12, preferably at least two of such end flaps, optionally at least three or four or such end flaps. In this way, the magnetic fastening means in the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 can be used to secure the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 in conjunction with the first and second side wall panels 3, 4.

FIG. 2 shows the folding of the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 in relation to the bottom panel 2, and the folding of the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 perpendicular thereto. FIG. 2 also shows the folding of the second side wall panel 4 into its upstanding position, such that material 14 located within the second side wall panel 4, such as one or more metallic or magnetic strips, etc., can engage with the first releasable securing means in at least one of the end flaps 10, 12, so as to conjoin and be releasably secured thereagainst in a formed configuration.

FIG. 2 shows suitable locations 15, 16 of a similar material within the first side wall panel 3, adapted to engage with first releasable securing means located within one or both of the end flaps 9, 11, so that the folding of the first side wall panel 3 in an upright position will similarly conjoin the first side wall panel 3 with the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8, in a manner similar to conjunction of the second side wall panel 4.

The top panel 5 and the closure flap 6 may be similarly folded to provide a box structure able to locate one or more gifts therein. One possible gift is a book as shown in FIG. 3.

A second releasable fastening means 13, such as a strip of magnetic material, is located within the closure flap 6. Within the second side wall panel 4 there is provided a cooperating fastening means 14, such as a metallic or further magnetic or ferromagnetic material strip, such that the closure flap 6 can be secured to the second side wall panel 4 in overlapping relationship to releasably but securely close the box formed by the folded blank.

The blank may be partly or completely made of cardboard covered or coated with strong paper, such as laminated matt, silk or gloss finish, with a multiplicity of patterns, which may be especially designed for specific customers.

FIG. 3 shows a paperback book 20 which can be first placed on the bottom panel 2 in approximate registration with the fold lines defining the bottom panel 2. The third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 are then folded up to lie against or parallel to the ends of the book 20, the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 being folded to be parallel to the sides of the book 20. Next the first and second side wall panels 3, 4 are folded up to lie against or parallel to the sides of the book 20, in overlapping relationship with the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12.

Finally the box is closed by folding the top panel 5 over the front of the book 20 to lie parallel to the bottom panel 2, the closure flap 6 being folded down to overlap the second side wall panel 4 whereby the releasable fastening means 13 engages the material 14 in the second side wall panel 4 to secure the closure flap 6 against the second side wall panel 4.

It has been found that the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 can be held in place with sufficient strength by the use of only one end flap per side wall panel and thus one of the end flaps 9, 10, 11, 12 on each of the third and fourth side wall panels 7, 8 may be omitted, for example, the end flaps 9, 11 closest to the first side wall panel 3. Such omission renders the assembly of the blank into a box easier.

The present invention provides a reusable packaging means for providing an attractive wrapping for a paperback book, gift, etc that also protects the book, etc from damage and can be reused numerous times. The box formed from the blank according to the present invention can also be used as a display device for presenting books, gifts, etc. in a book store display, as a gift wrapping and as a general day to day storage device for protecting a paperback book, etc.

The blanks 1 can be stored flat, thus taking up a minimum amount of space during delivery to and storage in retail establishments and can be readily assembled in a box form by shop staff or customers.

The outer surfaces of the blank 1 can be partly, substantially or wholly decorated to provide an attractive gift packaging for books or can be printed with advertising literature or logos. The reusable nature of the blanks 1 renders such decoration more cost effective when compared to prior art disposable packaging that can only be used once and then must be discarded. Thus the blanks can be made from higher quality and more attractive materials than prior art box blanks for packaging books.

Various modifications and variations to the described embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. 

1. A reusable foldable blank comprising a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of hinge lines to define a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable in use along the hinge lines to define a box structure, said box structure at least comprising: a bottom panel, at least first, second and third side wall panels extending from the bottom panel, and one or more first releasable securing means comprising a magnetic fastener for releasably securing at least two of the folded side wall panels together.
 2. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the side wall panels includes at least an end flap extending from a side of the or each side wall panel, the or each end flap being foldable in use to extend along an inner wall portion of another side wall panel, and at least one such end flap comprising a first releasable securing means comprising a magnetic fastener to releasably secure the end flap to the inner wall portion of another side wall panel.
 3. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the first and second side wall panels include first and second end flaps extending from opposing sides of the first and second side wall panels, and at least one of each of the first and second end flaps includes first releasable securing means comprising a magnetic fastener.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each first releasable securing means is located within the or each end flap.
 6. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blank includes a top panel extending from a side wall panel.
 7. A blank as claimed in claim 6 wherein the top panel includes a second releasable securing means comprising a magnetic fastener for releasably securing the top panel to another side wall panel.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A blank as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second releasable securing means is located within the top panel.
 10. A blank as claimed in claim 9 wherein the top panel comprises a further panel extending from one side of the top panel being foldable along a hinge line between said further panel and said top panel, and wherein the second releasable securing means is located within the further panel.
 11. A blank as claimed in claim 10 wherein the further panel is foldable to overlap the side wall panel to which it is releasably securable.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A blank as claimed in claim 1 comprising a fourth side wall panel.
 14. A blank as claimed in claim 13 comprising fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth side wall panels.
 15. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the side walls panels are formed from one or more separate sheets secured to a first sheet defining said bottom panel.
 16. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the box structure is cuboid.
 17. A blank as claimed in claim 1 comprising a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of hinge lines to define a plurality of panels, said panels comprising: a bottom panel, first and second side wall panels extending from first and second opposing sides of the bottom panel, third and fourth side wall panels extending from third and fourth opposing sides of the bottom panel, each of the third and fourth side wall panels including first and second end flaps extending from opposing sides of the third and fourth wall panels, each of the first and second end flaps being foldable to extend along an inner wall portion of the first and second wall panels.
 18. A blank as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least two of the first and second end flaps include first releasable securing means.
 19. A blank as claimed in claim 17 wherein the third and fourth side wall panels extend from the bottom panel from a position parallel to and spaced inwardly from an adjacent edge of the bottom panel.
 20. A blank as claimed in claim 1 comprising a single blank.
 21. (canceled)
 22. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side wall panels are dimensioned to fit around a book.
 23. A blank as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least the first and second side wall panels include first and second end flaps extending from opposing sides of the first and second side wall panels, and at least one of each of the first and second end flaps includes first releasable securing means comprising a magnetic fastener. 